Captain America: Civil War, perhaps the most eagerly anticipated film of the year, is days away from dropping.
The trailers for the film have been absolutely astounding; the build up to the conflict between two favourite heroes, riveting; and the fan excitement level, at al all-time peak.
As the first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Phase Three, Captain America: Civil War should form the basis for the plethora of Marvel films to come. That extensive list includes this fall’s Doctor Strange, next year’s Thor: Ragnarok and Spider-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy 2, and then Captain Marvel among others. Wrapping up the phase will be the two-part extravaganza: Avengers: Infinity War.
And if you know Marvel Comics, and are a fan of these Marvel movies, then you’re looking for Easter Eggs – those hidden gems of story, characters or incidents that only the most educated of the educated know about.
We here at Biff Bam Pop! love talking about them. That’s what this article is for: Easter Egg wants. Our wishes. Our desires. And like good ‘ol Cap, we could do this all day.
Here, then, are the Easter Eggs that four Biff Bam Pop! writers (and Marvel Cinematic Universe enthusiasts) want to see in the highly anticipated blockbuster film.
Give them a read and then tell us what your Easter Egg wants are, fan-boys and fan-girls!
Jim Knipp’s Top 3 Easter Egg Wants:
Spider-Man’s Role/Story Arc
In many ways Spidey is the soul of the comics version of Civil War. Peter Parker’s journey – from doubtful adopter, to choosing to unmask, to finally changing heart when he realizes the bad that is happening – is integral to the plot. In the comics, he’s a grown man, with a wife, who works for Tony Stark and has been playing the superhero game for at least a decade. He knows the stakes. In this movie, he’s a kid, 14 years old and just starting out. How will that play out? Will he even be important to the plot of the movie or just something thrown in to bring in more fans? The director says his role is important and unique, but in a movie already chock full of heroes, that’s gonna be tough.
The Vision and Scarlet Witch
The longtime love affair between The Vision and Scarlet Witch is one of the most convoluted (hence one of my favorite) series of stories in the comics. Over three decades they fall in love, get married, have children, find out those children aren’t real, then find that maybe they are real, but only sort of (because comics). She kills him a few times, he loses human emotion and leaves her a few times, but they always seem to end up together. We caught hints about the potential for this relationship in the MCU during Avengers: Age of Ultron, and it looks like in the trailers we have at least one scene where Wanda puts a hurtin’ on good old big red, green, and capey. Can’t wait to see where that leads.
Where do the Prisoners Go?
In the comic version, Tony recruits Reed Richards (not to mention a few less-than-savory evil geniuses) to build a prison in the Negative Zone. This is vital because the Negative Zone is a horrible place that pretty much saps your will to live, and its use leads to a number of people who may have leaned pro-registration (most notably Susan Storm Richards and ultimately Peter Parker) to move to Team Cap. I can’t imagine that happening here since (1) not sure whether an other-dimensional, life-sapping prison will fly in the movies, and (2) Reed, Sue, and probably the Negative Zone itself are still Fox properties and I doubt they’ll give them up. During the trailers, we catch a few glimpses of Tony in an ocean-ringed prison that looks a lot like The Raft. If it is, will we see it used in other Marvel movies? How about Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.?
BONUS: Quicksilver reborn?
Quicksilver’s death was one of the more shocking events of Avengers: Age of Ultron (assuming you ignored the trailer where Wanda drops to her knees screaming “NO!” while rage-disintegrating a bunch of Ultrons), and there’s something a little dissatisfying about him having such a short run in the MCU. (Full disclosure, Quicksilver has long been my favorite Marvel Character). But…we have precedence already for characters returning (looking at you, Coulson). And while Wanda’s powers in the MCU seem to be more telekinesis/telepathy oriented, in the comics they’re actually the ability to change reality. And she’s brought people back before. Could we be in for a surprise cameo, maybe at the end or a mid-credits scene? Yeah, probably not, but one can hope.
Justin Mohareb’s Top 3 Eater Egg Wants:
You see, this is a lot harder than choose Easters Eggs for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. For DC’s Billion Dollar Franchise Building extravaganza, there was a lot to look forward to. Admittedly, it didn’t pay it off but it was something to look forward to. But Captain America: Civil War has the difficulty of every Marvel film. How will it tell an interesting tale while still building on threads from prior films and leading forward into new films? The Russo’s captured that lightning in a bottle once, but can they do it again? Of course, I don’t know. I’m just a nerd who watches these things. But three things I’d like to see?
More Info on the Winter Soldier’s Past.
Okay, this is sort of a gimme, but he was a killsicle for Hydra for about 70 years. Surely he participated in some interesting stuff during that time. I’ve got a bit of a theory that probably won’t pan out, but if it does, I’ll be pleased.
More of the Global MCU
I know we’ll never get Alpha Flight, but Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. at least mentioned Department H once. Can we get more like that? I know we’re getting Wakanda, but even non-Sokovian Europe or a few countries in Asia. Any capes showing up in other countries?
S.H.I.E.L.D.
Over in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. the team now functions as an ATCU strike force (with a secret Inhuman team), but we know from Earthquake’s vision that they’ll have at least a S.H.I.E.L.D. arm patch at some point in the future. But what the heck happened after Nick Fury showed up with a Helicarrier over Sokovia last year and helped save a city? It’s a little confusing, to be honest. Can we get clarification?
BONUS: Recognition that I called that the film would be Up All Night To Get Bucky.
Glenn Walker’s Top 3 Easter Egg Wants:
Giant-Man
This one might be a no-brainer as some of the LEGO toys may have given this one away already, but I want to see Ant-Man become Giant-Man. He might not be Hank Pym in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but Giant-Man is still one of my favorite Avengers, and to finally see him on the big screen… oooh baby… nerdgasm.
Wakanda
Yeah, Wakanda, we talked about it, talked around it, and did the same with vibranium and adamantium. And while that latter metal currently belongs to Fox, along with Wolverine and his claws, since we’re getting the Black Panther, give us Wakanda, vibranium, and everything that goes with it. Show us the majesty of the most advanced nation on the African continent, and quite possibly the planet. Give us the Panther God mythology, the Phantom-like legacy, and the robot jungle. I want it all.
Nobody Dies
After suffering through Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice on the big screen, and the fact that this movie is loosely based on the comic book series Civil War, there is some concern that death might creep into the plot. There is much conjecture that War Machine buys the farm in the film, and in the comics, there are a few deaths as well. I know war is hell, but I’m hoping that no one actually dies.
JP Fallavollita’s Top 3 Easter Egg Wants:
Somebody Dies
Look, Civil War is a pretty famous storyline for comic book fans and Captain America lovers. Despite the life cuddle that Biff Bam Pop’s Editor-in-Chief, Glenn Walker may be wanting, staying true to their respective comic book stories is when film adaptations are at their best. And that means a certain somebody has to die in Captain America: Civil War. Not only will it give added weight to this character’s meaning in the Cap trilogy, but it’ll also give so much significance to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Avengers, both in previous films and ones to come. Plus it allows for an important passing of a torch. And that’s something I can get behind!
Inhumans
Marvel Studios has recently shelved, albeit temporarily, a scheduled Inhumans film, which was due for release in 2019. In many ways, it’s not surprising. The calendar is chock full of comic book related blockbusters over the coming years and with Disney owning the Marvel Cinematic Universe slate of films and the successful Star Wars movies, there’s just no room on a cramped schedule. Still, that doesn’t mean Inhumans, the story of a riveting royal family full of mutant super powers, hidden away from mankind, shouldn’t be seeded now. We’ve already got part of their story developing each week in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. television series. And now we’ve got Wakanda and Black Panther debuting in Captain America: Civil War. Let’s hear or see something about Black Bolt, Medusa, Maximus the Mad, and the absolutely astounding Karnak! It’s time!
Illuminati
If Captain America: Civil War is about a proposed Registration Act, it makes sense that now is good time to introduce the beginnings of the Illuminati storyline from a well-regarded premise within various Marvel Comics over the last decade or so. These are, secretly, the superheroes that pull the strings throughout the world: bending and shaping outcomes as they see fit, with no oversight from anyone but those at their table. And that table is a small one. The Illuminati are the smartest, strongest and most formidable characters in the Marvel Universe. I mean, we’ve already got Iron Man and Black Panther. Doctor Strange makes his first appearance in the MCU later this year. And with Disney/Marvel Studios making arrangements with Sony to being Spider-Man into the MCU, could a re-boot of Fantastic Four and Reed Richards be far behind? And then there’s the long-rumored cinematic appearance of Namor, the Sub-Mariner. With Captain America: Civil War ushering in the beginnings of the third phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, could we begin to get a sense of what a brand new Phase Four might look like – a world run, in secret, by Marvel’s greatest heroes?
So, in terms of Easter Eggs, what are you hoping to see in the film? Be sure to check back in with Biff Bam Pop! over the coming days for news, reviews and commentary on all things regarding the Marvel Cinematic Universe including the Captain America: Civil War film!
Captain America: Civil War opens in theatres on May 6, 2016.
